Forged in Darkness (English) ON PAUSE

Chapter 5: Dark Nightmares

The day had passed without any significant events. The tension I had felt during the Care of Magical Creatures lesson had slowly faded, but the unease had followed me to my room in the Slytherin dormitory. Night had fallen, and the candles I had left lit cast dancing shadows on the walls. I tried to concentrate on my studies, but thoughts about Harry, Draco, and the strange conversation with Lupin kept distracting me.

I finally decided to go to bed. I slipped under the covers, but I couldn't find peace. My mind was crowded with fragmented images and feelings of unease, as if something dark was pressing against the edges of my subconscious. Eventually, sleep overtook me, dragging me into a confusing and unsettling dream.

I found myself in a vast desolate landscape, enveloped in a gray mist that cloaked everything like a blanket of shadows. The sky was a pale red, and there was no trace of the sun. I walked along a path of black stones, and each step seemed to bring me closer to an invisible yet oppressive presence.

Suddenly, in front of me, a tall, slender figure materialized. The face was hidden in darkness, but the cold and aura of malevolence it emitted were palpable. I felt a magnetic force pulling me toward him, and despite my fear, I couldn't look away. The figure raised a long, skeletal hand, and I felt a dark presence fill the air.

A hissing voice, seeming to come from all directions and none at the same time, filled the atmosphere. "Sarah... You've finally come to see me," it murmured, with a tone that made my heart vibrate. "Your revenge is near... but first, you must understand your true power."

The darkness around me grew denser and more menacing. I couldn't see the figure's face, but I could clearly sense its identity. It felt both incredibly familiar and totally alien, like a nightmare I had forgotten.

Then, the dream abruptly changed. I found myself in a large hall, with walls of black stone, where fire danced in large braziers. At the center of the room, a throne adorned with serpents and skulls stood imposingly. The mysterious figure was seated on that throne, cloaked in black robes that seemed to absorb all the surrounding light. The face remained hidden, but the feeling of terror was palpable.

I was paralyzed, unable to move or speak. The figure slowly lifted its head, and for a moment, its face was illuminated by a disturbing light. I couldn't clearly see the details, but the image that remained etched in my mind was that of a pale and distorted face, with gray, piercing eyes that shone with a malevolent light.

"You cannot escape your true legacy, Sarah," whispered the figure with a deep, penetrating voice. "The power that has been given to you is also a curse. Remember, the price of darkness is high, and you will pay it."

The dream became confused and fragmented, with images changing rapidly. I saw shadows intertwining, and the sound of a cold, demonic laugh filled the air. The images began to fade into a chaos of lights and sounds until I suddenly woke up in bed, my heart pounding and my breath coming in gasps.

The room was silent and dark, but the feeling of anguish persisted. I lay in bed for a few minutes, trying to calm my racing heart and banish the disturbing images from my mind. The dream had been so vivid and unsettling that it felt like it had left a scar on my consciousness.

I slowly got up, determined not to let the terror overwhelm me. I walked over to the window and looked out into the night, seeking comfort in the apparent calm of the starry sky. I knew that dreams often reflect our deepest fears and desires, but that night, my mind had been disturbed by something darker and more sinister.

As I tried to regain control of my thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder if the dream had a deeper meaning, if it was a premonition, or simply a reflection of my anxieties and fears. The dark figure and its words continued to haunt me, and I felt that I had to confront what they represented.